Portable blackboard



Oct. 11, 1932. J. F. JOHNSON ET AL PORTABLE BLACKBOARD Filed July 22, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet w 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 M 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 U1 1 MVEF Oct. 3 JQF. JOHNSON ET AL 1,881,636

PORTABLE BLACKBOARD Filed July 22. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE H JOHN F. JOHNSON AND ROBERT B. LAWTON, OF CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO WEBER COSTELLO 00., OF CHICAGO HEIGHTS,

ILLINOIS Application filed July 22,

This invention relates in general to blackboards and more particularly to those of the portable type. Q It is one of the primary objects of my in-. vention to provide a portable blackboard structure which is so designated that it may be folded so as to occupy a relatively small space to enable its being readily and easily transported from one location to another, and which is so constructed that it may be quickly and easily manipulated to a position of use.

It is a further object of this invention to vprovide a novel portable blackboard having a plurality of writing surfaces which may be successively and collectively exposed to view either for the purpose of writing thereon or for bringing to the eye of an observer matter which has previously been placed thereon.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a novel blackboard having a plurality of writing surfaces which may be locked in such positions'that the writing surfaces are concealed from view, but which may at any desired time be manipulated by an authorized person into positions wherein the surfaces are exposed so that previously written indicia may be readily and easily viewed.

7 Still another object of the invention is to provide a blackboard of this type which is simple in design, economic of manufacture, and which is constructed in such a manner as to enable the writing of indicia thereon, after which the blackboard may be locked so as to keep the indicia concealed until such time as it is desired to publish iti The present invention is particularly advantageous for use in school rooms and other ,places of instruction as it not only provides a portable blackboard which may be readily moved from one room to another as the occasion demands, but also, as for example, enables the writing of indicia such as examination questions or the like thereon prior to the meeting of the class thereby saving considerable time for the students and enabling them to "use this time more advantageously. Moreover, locking means are provided so that the blackboard may be retained locked in closed position so that the students are unable to ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF PORTABLE BLACKBOARD 1931. Serial N0. 552,302.

ascertain the context of the matter on the blackboard until such time as the teacher desires to open the board whereupon the matter is at once visible. After the board has been used in one room, as for example, during an examination period, it may be removed to another room where the same examination is being given at a subsequent period.

Other objects of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a single embodiment thereof and in which:

Figure l is a front elevation showing a blackboard embracing the features of the present invention applied to a vertical wall structure;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through the blackboard, the panels "thereon being locked in superposed position, taken substantially on line II-II of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the blackboard with the panels in superposed position, the blackboard being re moved from its supporting bracket; and

Figure 4% is an enlarged fragmentary elevation from the locking side of the blackboard, the panels being in superposed position and latched against the supporting wall structure.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention there is shown in Fig. 1 a conventional wall structure having a pair of vertically aligned angle bracket-s secured thereto in spaced relationship in any suitable manner, as for'example, by means of screws 13 which extend through the bracket into the wall. The horizontally disposed legs of these angle brackets are provided with aligned apertures for receiving therethrough a pivot member 14, the pivot member having a contracted threaded portion 15' at its lower end for receiving a winged nut 16 by means of which a shoulder 17 at the junction of the contracted portion and the main portion of the member may be forcibly drawn into engagement with the upper surface of the horizontal leg of the bracket 12 thereby securing the pivot member against removal from the supporting brackets. 7

The blackboard embraces a plurality of rectangular frames 18' which are preferably of channel shaped cross-secti0n and constrncted of light metal such as aluminum.

S orted within each frame 18 is a panel 19 of blackboard material having its surfaces finished in a manner Well known to the art *for providing suitable writing surfaces.

The frames containing the blackboard material are respectively connected to the pivot member 14 so as to be pivotally swingable in a plane at right angles to the plane'of the wall structure 10.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will'be observed that this connection is accomplished by means of a plurality of pairs of clamping members 20 and 21, which are clamped together by a clamping screw 22 which extends through I the members and is engaged by a suitable nut 23. 'The outer set ofendsof the clamping members are'shaped so as to clampingly en- 7 gage one side of the frame 18 and the other set of ends of the clamping members are curved for embracingthe pivotal member 14, this arrangement providing a simple means for'pivotally mounting the panels and enabling, the easy removal of any panel,if desired. Since it is desirable to have all'the panels supported upon a-common pivot memher, in this instance'pivot memberll l, in such a manner as to enable the panels to be'moved into superposed position asshown in 2, the brackets onthe outermost panels are provided with'angularly disposed portions as illustrated at 24. :Otherwise, the outermost brackets are constructed to clampingly engagethe frame 18 of the outermost panels in the same manner as-described for the clamping members ofthe innermost panel Each panel is supported by two'pai'rs of similar clamping members, the lower clampingfmember of the firstipanel being supported againstjdownward; movement on the pivot member 14. by means of a collar 24 which is rigidly secured adjacent the lower end'of the pivot member. The lower pairs of clamp.- ing members and the upper pairsfof clamping members of the successive panels arerespectivel y disposed one upon the other, each being supported upon the preceding clamping member, In order to provide} sutlicient clearance- I to enable each clamping member to pass by the adjacent. clamping member,

' of the hasp therefrom, andjenable thepanels I @clearly-illustrated in Fig. 4.

' For lockingthe 'superpos d v I the wall structure, there 1s provided'adj acent suitablewashers 25 are threaded on the pivot member between the clamping members.

Pivotally secured to the'outer edge of the frame of one of the outermostpanels is a hasp 26 having an aperture- 27 at its'free end for receiving a lug 28 which is adapted to been'gaged by a lock 29 to prevent removal to be locked in superposed relationship. as

panels against the top edges of the panels a latching member having angularly disposedv legs 30 and 31. The'leg 30 is pivoted as by a screw 32 so as to be movable in a plane parallelto the surface of the wall. Adjacent the junction of the legs 30 and 31, leg 30 is provided with a concentric slot 33 having a stop screw 34:

the-rein. Leg31 of the latch member is provided at its outer end with spacedproje'ctions35 which extend on either side ofthe top frame member of the outermost panel,

when the panels are in superposed position and against the wall 10. A spring 36 1s secured atone end to the wall structure and engagesithe top edge of leg 31 adjacent its juncture with the leg 3050 that the latching member is normally forced in a counterclock wise direction about its pivot, this movement being limited by the screwB abutting the upper endv of slot33. For manuallyactuating the latch member to raised position for releasing the panels, a digitally engageable member 37, which may bea string or wire is connected at its upper end to the end of leg.

of. the pivot screw 32 30 on the, opposite'si de from the'leg 31;

The operation of my invention will be best understood by describing it in connection with its use in, school rooms. 7 V Various indicia such, for example, asjeiramination questlons m'ay'be'placed on the writing surfaces" of the respective panels at the convenience of the teacher or instructor and mounted as shown in Fig. 1 with the oanels locked in superposed position and latched against the wall 10; As soon as the classlbegins and it is desired to start the examination, the instructor will unlock the panels and by pulling down on the digitall engageable member 37 may actuate the late member to raised position which enables the first panel to be pivotally moved to theposition'shown in dotted line inFig. 1. The in-L dicia' on the first and second, panels are then exposed to theview. of the class and'they proceedflwith the examination. As the examination, proceeds, the successivepanels are rotated to the opposite side of .the pivot been rotated. r v

At theconclus on of the examination period, the instructor may desire to submit the member 14, until at length all the panels have same questions to a' similar class in another .room. Th s maybe easlly accomplished by disengaging the wing nut 16 from the lower end of the pivot member .14, whereupon the panels and pivotmemberjmay be moved upwardly: as a unit in the'brackets 11 and 12 until: the lower end of the pivot member is free, whereupon downward movement will release the upper end of the pivot member. The blackboard f nay be carried to the other room and'the pivotfmember inserted in a pair of brackets ,similarto brackets 11 and 12. By

replacing the wing nut 16, the'blackboard is secured against accidental removal and the instructor may follow the same procedure in presenting the examination questions to this class as in the previous class.

It will also be observed that the hasp arrangement for locking the panels in superposed relationship is advantageous in that by so doing, the blackboard may be more easily carried from one location to another.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that my invention provides an improved portable blackboard of novel construction which is simple in design and economical of manufacture; which may be folded so as to occupy a relatively small space to enable its easy and ready transportation from one location to another; and which isso constructed that indicia may be placed thereon and the blackboard locked in closed position until such time as it may be desired to disclose to view the indicia thereon.

Now, it is of course to be understood that although I have described in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention, the invention is not to be thus limited but only insofar as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A blackboard structure comprising a pair of spaced opposed brackets, a rod journaled in said brackets and longitudinally slidable therein, means on said brackets to limit is sliding movement in one direction in the brackets, and hinges on said rod supporting a plurality of blackboard panels for swinging movement to parallel juxtaposed relation, said hinges being disposed relative to said brackets in such a manner as to enable movement of the rod, hinges and panels as a unit in the other direction until one end of the rod is free of its associated bracket, whereupon said unit may be removed to an other location by moving it in the opposite direction until the other end of the rod is free of its associated bracket.

2. A blackboard structure comprising a pair of spaced opposed brackets, a rod journaled in said brackets and longitudinallyslidable therein, means on said rod to limit its sliding movement in one direction in the brackets, hinges on said rod supporting a plurality of blackboard panels for swinging movement to parallel juxtaposed relation, said hinges being disposed relative to said brackets in sucha manner as to enable movement of the rod, hinges and panels as a unit in the other direction until one end of the rod is free of its associated bracket, whereupon said unit may be removed to another location by moving it in the opposite direction until the other endof the rod is free of its associated bracket, and fastening means i carried by certain of said panels to retain all of the panels in parallel juxtaposed relation during transfer of the unit to another location.

3. A blackboard structure comprising a pair of spaced opposed brackets, a rod journaled in said brackets and longitudinally slidable therein, a shoulder on said rod arranged to abut one of said brackets and limit sliding movement of the rod in one direction in the brackets, and hinges on said rod supporting a plurality of blackboard panels for swinging movement to parallel juxtaposed relation, said hinges being inwardly spaced from said brackets to enable sufiicient movement of the rod, hinges and panels as a unit in the other direction to free one end of the rod from its associated bracket, whereupon said unit may be removed to another location by moving it in the opposite direction until the other end of the rod is free from its associated bracket.

4. A blackboard structure comprising a pair of spaced opposed brackets, a rod journal-ed in said brackets and longitudinally slidable therein, means on said rod to limit its sliding movement in one direction in the brackets, hinges on said rod supporting a plurality of blackboard panels for swinging movement to parallel juxtaposed relation, said hinges being disposed relative to said brackets in such a manner as to enable movement of the rod, hinges and panels as a unit in the other direction until one end of the rod is free of its associated brackets, whereupon said unit may be removed to another location by moving it in the opposite direction until the other end of the rod is free from its associated brackets, a hasp pivoted on one of the outermost of said panels, and means on the other outermost of said panels engageable by said hasp, said latter means being adapted to receive a lock in such a manner as to retain the hasp against removal, said hasp and latter means cooperating to retain all the panels in parallel juxtaposed relation during transfer of the unit to another location.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Chicago Heights, Cook county, Illinois.

JOHN F. JOHNSON. ROBERT B. LAWTON. 

